Pardon me as I step on my soapbox. Today, I am excited to announce my first, truly editorial piece on CivilEats.com which explores salt policy and the state of the American palate.

You may be shocked to hear me say this, but here’s the truth: for most people, salt has a place in the kitchen.

True, there is a large population of people who, for health reasons, must shake the shaker – myself included. Over 75 million Americans over the age of twenty are currently diagnosed with hypertension. For a great percentage of this group – as well as those who suffer from chronic kidney disease (20 million people over the age of 20), Meniere’s disease (615,000 people currently diagnosed), cirrhosis, diabetes (over 23 million people), and heart failure (670,000 diagnosed each year) – reducing salt has palpable health benefits.